Why Daniel Radcliffe was the perfect choice to play Weird Al Yankovic

When it was first announced that Dan Radcliffe had been chosen to play “Weird Al” Yankovic in the biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, the public was taken aback. But he ultimately proved to be the ideal actor for the role. Now, Yankovic has disclosed the reasons behind why he opted for such a unique casting decision.

The background of the biopic has been as bizarre as its main character. The concept originated from a Funny or Die skit, and the director of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story purposely avoided doing any research. This theme of strangeness has been a consistent element, which is seen in Radcliffe’s portfolio of roles. He has portrayed characters with guns attached to their hands, and been a multi-usage corpse; it’s no surprise he has embraced these peculiar parts. Additionally, he has put in a lot of effort in his roles.

Take a look at nine classic parodies created by the one and only ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic! These parodies have gone down in musical history.

Yankovic and Appel, the director of Weird, both embraced the idea of having Radcliffe as the star of the movie. In a recent interview with Deadline, they expressed their appreciation of the actor’s dedication. Appel stated, “He was devoted. During our initial virtual meeting when he accepted the role two years before the film was made, he asked ‘What kind of accordion should I purchase? I’m going to learn how to play it.'”

Yankovic went the extra mile to help Radcliffe with the instrument for the spoof movie, creating instructional videos to ensure the actor was pressing the correct buttons. This commitment from them both reinforces how ideal a couple they make, especially in a movie featuring a parody musician on a mission similar to Rambo against Pablo Escobar.

Daniel Radcliffe’s career has been known for its honesty, including vocalizing his thoughts on J.K. Rowling’s transphobia, and selecting roles based on his personal likes rather than their level of fame. Yankovic noted this, saying “That really impressed us…He’s made a lot of interesting choices in terms of roles he’s taken on — a lot of weird roles, which made us think he probably would be amenable to our movie.” Additionally, the actor’s enthusiasm for learning Yankovic’s signature instrument was also impressive.

There’s no doubt that Radcliffe was a great pick to portray the protagonist in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and understanding Yankovic’s thought process behind this choice only cements that notion. Here’s to them having more opportunities to be their most genuine selves, especially if that means they keep being peculiar.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story can be watched for free on The Roku Channel.

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In an interview with Deadline, Weird Al Yankovic discussed his upcoming biopic being directed by Eric Appel and his thoughts on the contenders for this year’s TV awards. He noted that his biopic would focus on his life, career, and music. Yankovic further explained how he hoped to capture the spirit of his music in the film. He also shared his views on the quality of TV programming today and expressed his admiration for the nominees in this year’s awards.